Written Answers Thursday 10 March 2011

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the Local Alcohol Profiles produced in 2004-05 in order to assist public health specialists on licensing boards in determining the case for reduced availability of alcohol on the grounds of public health interest.

Shona Robison: Local Alcohol Profiles were produced by ISD in both 2004 and 2006. These were replaced with a Local Drug and Alcohol Information publication that was first published in 2008 and subsequently in 2010. This publication incorporated information previously included in the Local Alcohol Profiles and Corporate Action Plan Information Packs and provides links to relevant local level information and also additional analysis of some data at local level.

  Additionally, ISD publishes Alcohol Statistics Scotland biennially, with the most recent version being published in February 2011. This publication provides a wide range of statistics on alcohol with information shown at a local level where possible. All alcohol-related publications are available at:

  http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/1407.html.

  ISD Substance Misuse Programme is currently consulting with stakeholders to seek views on existing products and services - including frequency, format and content of publications - and will be producing an action plan to take forward any identified changes.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support councillors facing the threat of legal action when proposing to curtail availability of alcohol on the grounds of public health interest.

Kenny MacAskill: The public health objective is still a new concept and the government is encouraging those with an interest in public health to discuss with licensing boards what information they can provide but also enter into a dialogue over how such evidence should be presented to enable licensing board decisions to be made from an informed and evidenced standpoint.

  Licensing board decisions made on the grounds of protecting and improving public health are no more prone to appeal than those based on preventing crime and disorder. To minimise such risks licensing boards must ensure that the necessary decision making procedures are followed and that decisions are consistent with the licensing board’s policy statement or reflect the views presented at a board hearing.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met stakeholders to discuss the social responsibility levy on alcohol; which stakeholders attended, and what the outcome was.

Kenny MacAskill: The Social Responsibility Levy Working Group last met on 24 June 2010. Representatives of the Scottish Retail Consortium, individual retailers and producers, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Licensed Trade Association, Scottish Beer and Pub Association and BII attended. Apologies were received from other bodies. Further meetings with individual stakeholders were held subsequently.

  These meetings informed the proposals included in the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010 and the current consultation issued on 8 November 2010 entitled, Initial Consultation on Social Responsibility Levy.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will distribute the 25,000 modern apprenticeship places by sector.

Angela Constance: The breakdown of modern apprenticeships by age and by sector for 2011-12 will be considered by Skills Development Scotland in line with industry and economic needs, as part of Skills Development Scotland’s ongoing procurement processes.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the extra 8,500 modern apprenticeship places will be made available.

Angela Constance: Following the budget we are discussing with Skills Development Scotland how to maximise the benefit of the additional modern apprenticeship places. We are keen to ensure that all 25,000 places are made available as soon as possible and in line with procurement guidelines for Skills Development Scotland.

Audiology

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by NHS boards in the delivery of the 18-week referral-to-treatment target for audiology services.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards are actively working to deliver the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target by the end of this year. Some boards have made better progress than others. That is why the Health Delivery Directorate is providing additional support to boards to ensure that the target is delivered.

Breastfeeding

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an evaluation of the Lanarkshire breastfeeding initiative.

Shona Robison: The Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative (LBI) is a charitable organisation that works in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire to promote breastfeeding in Lanarkshire and receives some funding from the board. We would expect NHS boards to evaluate any work that they commission.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the national screening programme for cervical cancer over the next five years.

Shona Robison: Cervical screening is and will remain an important part of the Scottish Government’s strategy on reducing the burden of cancer through early detection for many years to come. The introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme is expected to have an impact on the prevalence of HPV, and so cervical cancer, amongst women in Scotland in the long term, which may lead in due course to changes in the screening programme.

  The Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group has recommended that a sub group be established to consider HPV testing within the cervical screening programme. The sub-group will use its expertise to consider the available evidence and will provide advice to the Scottish Government. The timeline for the sub-group to report will be agreed shortly.

  The HPV “Test of Cure” early implementation study commenced on 1 February 2011 for one year with pilot sites in NHS Lothian, Grampian, Shetland, Orkney, Highland and Western Isles.

  Women in these pilot sites, who have been treated for high grade cervical disease since 1 August 2010, will in addition to cytology testing also be tested for HPV.

  It is always important to keep abreast of new technologies and in 2009, the Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study of image assisted screening which took place between March 2009 and September 2010.

  The Feasibility Study Report can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/screening/cervicalscreening/LabReviewGroup/CervicalCytologyReports.

  We will continue to take account of epidemiological and surveillance information as well as new developments in technology when taking future decisions about the screening programme.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the benefits of (a) image assisted screening and (b) testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) in screening for cervical cancer.

Shona Robison: (a) The Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study of image assisted screening and the recommendation has been made that image assisted screening meets the quality requirements and should be introduced where it is cost effective.

  The Feasibility Study Report can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/screening/cervicalscreening/LabReviewGroup/CervicalCytologyReports.

  (b) The HPV “Test of Cure” early implementation study commenced on  1 February 2011 for one year with pilot sites in NHS Lothian, Grampian, Shetland, Orkney, Highland and Western Isles.

  Women in these pilot sites, who have been treated for high grade cervical disease since 1 August 2010, will in addition to cytology testing also be tested for HPV.

Cancer

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage rate in the uptake of women aged 20 to 24 attending cervical screening has been in NHS Grampian in each of the last four years for which information is available and how these figures compare with the overall average of all age groups attending.

Shona Robison: The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 3.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  NHS Grampian, 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2010

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
57.0
51.6
57.6
57.3


25-29
74.5
64.8
69.4
70.7


30-34
81.3
70.9
75.6
77.0


35-39
83.4
75.9
79.9
80.4


40-44
85.4
78.1
81.3
81.9


45-49
85.8
79.3
81.8
82.2


50-54
85.9
79.6
80.6
80.3


55-59
83.9
78.3
80.1
79.2


60-64
64.1
73.4
68.2
59.3


20-60
79.7
72.2
75.7
76.1


Total (All Ages)
48.1
71.9
74.8
74.2



  The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 5.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
57.4
54.2
59.0
58.5


25-29
79.3
73.9
75.3
75.9


30-34
86.4
79.5
81.3
82.2


35-39
89.0
84.1
85.4
85.5


40-44
90.8
85.9
87.1
87.5


45-49
91.2
87.2
88.0
88.2


50-54
91.3
87.3
87.2
86.4


55-59
89.2
85.2
86.5
85.4


60-64
81.0
83.1
81.8
79.5


20-60
84.3
79.6
81.2
81.1


Total (All Ages)
52.2
79.3
80.7
80.4



  Source: ISD(D)4 Legacy application for 2006-07 data.

  Source: ISD(D)4 SCCRS for 2007-08 data onwards.

  Ref: IR2011-00573.

  Notes:

  1. Based on adjusted Community Health Index (CHI) population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for 2006-07. Based on Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  Cervical Screening year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths there have been from cervical cancer in the NHS Tayside area in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of people who died from cervical cancer, in each year since 2005, are available for Tayside NHS Board Area of Residence on the Information Services Division website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=m_cancer_female_genital_organs.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline.

  The most recent year for which numbers are available is 2009.

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new cases of cervical cancer have been diagnosed in the NHS Tayside area in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of new cases of cervical cancer, diagnosed in each year since 2006, are available for Tayside NHS Board Area of Residence on the Information Services Division website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_female_genital_organs.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline.

  The most recent year for which numbers are available is 2008.

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the recommendations made in Report of a study to identify and explore attitudes leading to low uptake of cervical screening in Scotland with a particular focus on how to improve uptake and address inequalities , published by NHS Health Scotland in August 2009.

Shona Robison: The National Advisory Group for Breast and Cervical Screening commissioned NHS Health Scotland to undertake research into the reasons for non-uptake of the cervical screening invitation.

  Following this research a new suite of targeted leaflets were produced which are sent out along with women’s invitation to screening. This includes leaflets which give more specific information for women attending for the first time and lesbian and bisexual women.

  These leaflets are also available on NHS Health Scotland’s website at:

  http://www.healthscotland.com/topics/health-topics/screening/cervical.aspx.

Coastal Protection

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with stakeholders to combat coastal erosion.

Roseanna Cunningham: We support the efforts of local authorities who, under the Coast Protection Act 1949, may take any measures they consider necessary or expedient to protect any land in their area from coastal erosion.

Culture

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what cultural events it has planned to coincide with the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Fiona Hyslop: The hosting of the Ryder Cup in 2014 will deliver significant positive economic impact and a host of other benefits for Scotland. Through the staging of the Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Edinburgh Festivals, Scotland will be centre stage in world terms in 2014 and that is why we have designated 2014 as our next Homecoming Year. Just as was the case in 2009, this will ensure Scotland has an inspirational programme of cultural events taking place the length and breadth of the country throughout the year.

Dentistry

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is improving access to NHS dentistry in rural and remote areas.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has taken significant steps through a series of measures to increase access to NHS dentistry in rural and remote areas.

  In the period 31 March 2007 to 31 December 2010 dental registrations have increased by 1.15 million.

  The following table shows the increase in dental registrations by NHS board.

  Difference in Number of Registrations by Age Category

  

NHS Board
Child
Adult
All Ages


Scotland
163,714
989,579
1,153,293


Ayrshire and Arran
8,621
67,752
76,373


Borders
4,550
18,438
22,988


Dumfries and Galloway
3,714
29,792
33,506


Fife
10,817
60,196
71,013


Forth Valley
9,632
57,627
67,259


Grampian
13,683
73,619
87,302


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
22,660
198,052
220,712


Highland
11,810
59,827
71,637


Lanarkshire
18,322
108,805
127,127


Lothian
12,798
127,023
139,821


Orkney
1,597
3,696
5,293


Shetland
1,889
4,562
6,451


Tayside
4,878
56,978
61,856


Western Isles
1,115
4,032
5,147

Dentistry

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) independent and (b) salaried dentists in the Highlands and Islands area received the £9,000 remote areas allowance in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The number of (a) independent and (b) salaried dentists in the Highland and Islands area who received the £9,000 remote areas allowance in each of the last three years for which information is available is shown in the following table:

  

Dentists
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11 (to date)


(a) independent
19
24
27


(b) salaried
30
34
41



  The figures in the table do not include (a) independent and (b) salaried dentists who have received, in the last three years, the remote areas allowance payable at amounts of less than the full £9,000.

Diabetes

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been for drugs prescribed for diabetes treatment in NHS Highland in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the gross ingredient cost for drugs defined by the British National Formulary as involved in the treatment of diabetes dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the financial years ended 31 March 2007 to 2010 for NHS Highland. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2006-07
2,735,807


2007-08
2,898,461


2008-09
2,868,970


2009-10
3,144,538



  Notes: The data are based on British National Formulary subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

  Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Diabetes

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been for drugs prescribed for diabetes treatment in NHS Orkney in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the gross ingredient cost for drugs defined by the British National Formulary as involved in the treatment of diabetes dispensed in the community-by-community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the financial years ended 31 March 2007 to 2010 for NHS Orkney. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2006-07
140,736


2007-08
145,558


2008-09
150,501


2009-10
156,756



  Notes: The data are based on British National Formulary subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

  Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Diabetes

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been for drugs prescribed for diabetes treatment in NHS Shetland in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the gross ingredient cost for drugs defined by the British National Formulary as involved in the treatment of diabetes dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the financial years ended 31 March 2007 to 2010 for NHS Shetland. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2006-07
141,214


2007-08
149,573


2008-09
148,523


2009-10
158,133



  Notes: The data are based on British National Formulary subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

  Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Diabetes

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been for drugs prescribed for diabetes treatment in NHS Western Isles in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the gross ingredient cost for drugs defined by the British National Formulary as involved in the treatment of diabetes dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the financial years ended 31 March 2007 to 2010 for NHS Western Isles. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2006-07
253,548


2007-08
267,163


2008-09
269,452


2009-10
296,976



  Notes:

  The data are based on British National Formulary subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

  Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Diabetes

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been for drugs prescribed for diabetes treatment in NHS Grampian in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the gross ingredient cost for drugs defined by the British National Formulary as involved in the treatment of diabetes dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the financial years ended 31 March 2007 to 2010 for NHS Grampian. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals and hospital-based clinics.

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2006-07
3,779,874


2007-08
4,001,780


2008-09
3,961,375


2009-10
4,224,740



  Notes:

  The data are based on British National Formulary subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

  Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on prescribing can be found at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used for awarding funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of potential end users was considered when awarding funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether cost-per-user was a factor in deciding to award funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.

Jim Mather: The criteria used by the expert panel for assessing local action group strategic bids are as follows.

  

Scoring Criteria
Evaluation Criteria


1. Description ofoverall bid
Should outline thenumber and nature of projects 


2. Meets NationalOutcomes
Local Action Groupshould outline why it believes the activity will meet the National Outcomes


3 Contribution toLEADER outcomes
Local Action Groupshould outline contribution to local outcomes, what changes it wants to seeas a result of the funding and any innovative element


4 Evaluation 
Does the bid show howproject will be evaluated/what indicators will be used to measure outcome 


5 Area and populationcovered
Details of area andpopulation covered by bid


6 Needs assessment
Is current areabroadband status outlined, how will provision be enhanced. This shouldinclude any liaison with wider public bodies


7. Any displacementeffect 
Are there pre-existingschemes or others planned -how will this bid add value


8. Technical input tothe bid 
Assessment of thetechnical quality of the bid 


9. Creative bid –technology 
Have innovativetechnological solutions for LEADER area been considered


10. Delivery mechanismand timescale
Local Action Groupshould describe the projects to be delivered and in what timescale. To be asspecific as possible about who will complete work, timescale and evidencefrom delivery agents to support.


11. Impact on jobs andbusinesses in area
Outline of jobscreated or impact on economic development if successful 


12 Additionalsupporting information 
The extent to whicheffort made to back up the bid and assess reasonableness of costs includingany procurement issue

Education

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the almost 13,000 children who leave primary school each year unable to read, write or count.

Michael Russell: We know from the Scottish Survey of Achievement that the majority of children develop a good grounding in literacy skills in early primary. However, a minority do not and we are determined that everything that needs to be done to support them is done.

  Curriculum for Excellence is designed to help drive up standards and literacy and numeracy is at its heart. It provides schools and teachers with the framework within which they can develop appropriate assessments in order to recognise and assist pupils with a range of literacy and numeracy support needs. For the first time, literacy and numeracy are the responsibility of all teachers. We expect all local authorities to have effective literacy and numeracy strategies in place and to develop and provide professional development programmes to support their strategies.

  In addition, the new Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy will sample and assess progress in numeracy and literacy skills in alternate years at P4, P7 and S2 beginning with numeracy in May this year.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on (a) how many people claimed jobseeker’s allowance and (b) unemployment rates in Dundee in December 2010, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) census area statistics ward.

Angela Constance: Claimant Counts and rates are not yet available for the new wards as used in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary Elections. However, data is available for the 2003 CAS Wards. Table 1 contain claimant counts and rates for each ward within Dundee City council, broken down by gender for December 2010.

  JSA (Jobseeker’s Allowance) Claimant count unemployment numbers and rate1 for wards2 in Dundee City Council, December 2010:

  

Area
Male
Female
Total Claimants


Claimant Count
Claimant Count Rate (%)
Claimant Count
Claimant Count Rate (%)
Claimant Count
Claimant Count Rate (%)


Ninewells
123
7.9
39
2.2
162
4.9


Camperdown
167
10.9
69
3.9
236
7.2


Balgay
89
5.8
32
2.0
121
3.8


Lochee West
181
14.5
64
4.6
245
9.2


Riverside
40
2.2
15
0.8
55
1.5


Brackens
127
7.5
39
2.0
166
4.6


Ardler
118
11.0
47
4.1
165
7.4


Balgowan
144
8.8
52
2.8
196
5.6


Claverhouse
110
7.2
30
1.8
140
4.4


Whitfield
148
12.8
34
2.8
182
7.6


Longhaugh
246
14.7
86
4.2
332
9.0


Pitkerro
227
14.0
95
5.0
322
9.2


Douglas
208
13.6
82
4.5
290
8.7


Barnhill
45
3.1
16
1.0
61
2.0


Balgillo
66
3.2
24
1.1
90
2.2


Broughty Ferry
51
3.5
21
1.3
72
2.3


West Ferry
27
1.9
7
0.5
34
1.2


Craigiebank
78
6.8
22
1.8
100
4.2


Strathmartine
89
6.0
28
1.7
117
3.8


Lochee East
121
8.9
46
3.4
167
6.2


Tay Bridges
124
4.5
46
1.7
170
3.2


Logie
121
7.8
45
2.9
166
5.3


Law
167
9.4
55
3.0
222
6.2


East Port
187
11.0
82
5.1
269
8.1


Baxter Park
132
8.1
38
2.3
170
5.2


Hilltown
183
10.0
60
3.2
243
6.5


Bowbridge
163
10.4
51
3.6
214
7.1


Stobswell
208
14.1
66
4.3
274
9.1


Fairmuir
146
10.5
33
2.3
179
6.4


Dundee City Council
3,794
8.4
1,308
2.7
5,102
5.4



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards in Scotland and Northern Ireland are calculated using the mid-2001 resident population aged 16 to 64.

  2. Rates for local authorities from 2010 onwards are calculated using the mid-2009 resident population aged 16 to 64.

  3. 2003 CAS Wards

  4. Totals for claimant counts within CAS Wards may not sum to totals for Dundee City councils due to slight differences in the boundaries that these geographies cover.

  5. Data is not seasonally adjusted.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent claimant count is in Dundee, broken down by age group.

Angela Constance: The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland. The table gives the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee City broken down by age group.

  JSA (Jobseeker’s Allowance) Claimant Count by age group for Dundee City Council, January 2011

  

Age-Group
Total


Aged 19 and under
520


Aged 20-24
1,060


Aged 25-29
815


Aged 30-34
580


Aged 35-39
520


Aged 40-44
555


Aged 45-49
510


Aged 50-54
425


Aged 55-59
305


Aged 60 and over
50


All Claimants
5,340



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data is rounded to nearest five.

  2. Data is not seasonally adjusted.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many men in Dundee aged (a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59 and (c) 60 to 64 are unemployed and what percentage of unemployed men in Dundee the groups represent in total.

Angela Constance: It is not possible to provide ILO (International Labour Organization) unemployment data disaggregated below local authority level from survey data (Annual Population Survey and Labour Force Survey) as the numbers are below reliability thresholds.

  Claimant count data can be used to measure those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland where survey data cannot be used. The table details the number of men claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee by 50 to 54, 55 to 59 and 60 to 64 age-groups, and the percentage of men claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee these groups represent.

  JSA (Jobseeker’s Allowance) Claimant Counts and Proportions for Men aged 50+, by Age-Group, Dundee City Council, January 2011

  

Age-Group
Claimant Count1
Percentage of all Male Claimants


Aged 50-54
305
7.6


Aged 55-59
230
5.9


Aged 60 and over
45
1.2



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data is rounded to nearest five.

  2. Data is not seasonally adjusted.

  3. Percentage given is that of particular age-group as a proportion of all age-groups within that particular gender.

Fair Trade

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provides to the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to assist in Scotland’s bid to become a Fair Trade Nation.

Fiona Hyslop: In April 2010, the Scottish Fair Trade Forum was awarded £239,907 over two financial years to take forward the Scottish Government’s commitment to becoming one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of commercial woodland from the national forestry estate have been allocated to wind energy technology projects in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland does not hold this data by year (construction typically takes place over several years).

  Since 1999, woodland removal on the national forest estate has taken place for the following schemes, all of which have been built or are under construction:

  

Name of Wind Farm
Local Authority Area (s)
Area of WoodlandRemoval (ha)


Beinn an Tuirc 1
Argyll and Bute
329


Beinn an Tuirc 2
Argyll and Bute
550


Deucheran
Argyll and Bute
9


An Suidhe
Argyll and Bute
3


Clachan Flats
Argyll and Bute
1


Cruach Mhor
Argyll and Bute
400


Kingshill (Blacklaw)
S. Lanarkshire
N. Lanarkshire
9


Whitelee
S. Lanarkshire
E. Renfrewshire
E. Ayrshire
393


Clyde
S. Lanarkshire
193


Arecleoch
South Ayrshire
210


Achairn
Highland
339


 
Total
2,436



  Of the total area of woodland removal, 1,250hectares was for priority habitat restoration associated with environmental mitigation.

  A further 2,750 hectares of woodland removal on the national forest estate is currently being considered within the planning system. Final details are not yet concluded with Forestry Commission Scotland and nor has the level of compensatory planting.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of commercial woodland from the national forestry estate will be required to be allocated to fulfil the wind energy proposal announced by the Minister for Environment on 20 February 2011, broken down by local authority area.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland’s estimate of the wind energy capacity likely to be installed as a result of this announcement is 500MW. This is of course simply an initial estimate and the position will become much clearer in eight months time when the selected developers will have completed an assessment of the lots.

  However, based on the 500MW, we would expect around 540 hectares in total to be required. Unless this area is agreed as open space for other reasons, Forestry Commission Scotland will require an equivalent area of compensatory planting be undertaken to offset this small reduction in forest cover. Further details on the control of woodland policy are available on the Forestry Commission website at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7HYHWE.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of commercial woodland have been replanted in order to offset wind energy technology projects in the national forestry estate in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.

Roseanna Cunningham: No compensatory replanting has yet taken place on the national forest estate but is being sought by Forest Enterprise Scotland for schemes submitted since the Scottish Government’s policy on control of woodland removal was published in June 2008.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10 and how much is allocated for 2010-11.

The following is a corrected answer (originally published on 26 July 2010); see below.

Shona Robison: The information requested on the funding provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland is given in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Amount


2006-07
£160.00


2007-08
£80,135.00


2008-09
£568,949.41


2009-10
£747,609.89


2010-11
£563,000.00

Health

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reporter other than the one who presided over the last inquiry will be appointed if a public inquiry is held into the proposed incinerator at Invergordon.

John Swinney: A new reporter has been appointed to consider this case. Mr Richard Dent, the reporter, is currently examining all the information that has been submitted to decide how the appeal should proceed.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the review of continuing care beds in the west of Glasgow announced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 10 February 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: The general purpose of the review will be to determine the ongoing need for NHS continuing care provision in the west of Glasgow, and to carefully consider the service options for providing this care, including maintaining the service currently provided by St Margaret’s of Scotland Hospice.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the review of continuing care beds in the west of Glasgow announced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 10 February 2011 will be conducted.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be invited to participate in the review of continuing care beds in the west of Glasgow announced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 10 February 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: I expect all health boards to conduct robust NHS service reviews which are sensitive to local needs and priorities whilst being consistent with national policies, guidelines and frameworks.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the chairperson or chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde last met representatives of St Margaret’s of Scotland Hospice.

Nicola Sturgeon: I understand that the last meeting took place on 1 November 2010, although there has been correspondence between both parties since then. Most recently, the Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde wrote to the Chair of St Margaret’s of Scotland Hospice on 21 February to arrange a meeting to discuss the services the hospice provides in light of recent developments around the Blawarthill project, and the NHS board’s subsequent review of continuing care provision for the West of Glasgow.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the review of continuing care beds in the west of Glasgow announced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 10 February 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde expects to conclude the review by the end of this summer.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the uncertainty regarding the future of continuing care beds at St Margaret’s of Scotland Hospice before the dissolution of the Parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is right that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – which is responsible for providing healthcare services that meet the needs of local people, whilst being consistent with national policies, frameworks and guidance – robustly review the provision of NHS continuing care in the west of Glasgow, in light of the recent developments around the Blawarthill project.

  This will involve carefully considering whether the continuing care beds currently provided by St Margaret’s of Scotland Hospice should be maintained. To this end, the Chair of the NHS board wrote to the chair of St Margaret’s on 21 February to propose a meeting in the near future.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses specialising in Parkinson’s disease there have been in each NHS board area in the last three years for which information is available, expressed as (a) head count and (b) whole-time equivalent.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on clinical nurse specialists by specialty, including Parkinson’s disease, by NHS board can be found on the Workforce Statistics website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Clinical%20Nurse%20Specialists% 202010.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

  It is of course for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements, including specialist nurses, based on the clinical needs of the population and service developments in their area.

Justice

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 25 convicted of dangerous driving in each of the last five years have (a) received a lifetime ban, (b) had their car confiscated, (c) had their car seized and (d) had their licence removed.

The following is a corrected answer (originally published on 28 January 2011); see below.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  There was one person aged under 25 disqualified for life in 2008-09. Information on the numbers of cars confiscated or seized is not held centrally.

  Persons Under 25 with a Charge Proved for Dangerous Driving1 who were Disqualified, from 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

 
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Total convicted
430
548
558
455
383


Of which disqualified
404
474
461
432
352


Percentage disqualified
94.0
86.5
82.6
94.9
91.9



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Justice

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, how many people under 25 have been convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in each of the last five years and how many have (a) received a lifetime ban, (b) had their car confiscated, (c) had their car seized and (d) had their licence removed.

The following is a corrected answer (originally published on 28 January 2011); see below.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information on persons disqualified from driving for causing death through dangerous driving in 2005-06 to 2009-10 is given in the following table.

  There were no disqualifications for life during this period. Information on the numbers of cars confiscated or seized is not held centrally.

  Persons under 25 with a Charge Proved for Causing Death through Dangerous Driving1, from 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

 
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Total
9
8
13
7
10


Of which disqualified
7
6
13
6
9


Percentage disqualified
77.7
75.0
100.0
85.7
90.0



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Justice

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been committed to tackling knife crime in each financial year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: Since 1999, there has been significant levels of investment from many different agencies in order to tackle violence, including knife crime, in Scotland. The Scottish Government works with the national police-led Violence Reduction Unit, the Association of Chief Police Officers, local Community Safety Partnerships, education, social work and other partners to tackle violence in Scotland. A broad range of Scottish Government activities work together to address violent behaviour and offending through various government policy areas such as policing, alcohol, early years, youth justice. Due to the fact that funding emanates from so many different sources it is impossible to disaggregate total expenditure on the issue of knife crime as a whole.

  The Scottish Government is doing more than ever to tackle knife crime and has already committed a record £500,000 investment in its award-winning No Knives Better Lives campaign between April 2009 and March 2011, with a further £500,000 recently announced for 2011-12; record funding of £1.6 million in the national Violence Reduction Unit over two years to tackle gang violence, and over £30 million in diversionary activities for young people through the CashBack for Communities campaign.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for the Choose Life programme.

Shona Robison: Revised proposals for monitoring Choose Life were made in the Report of the National Suicide Prevention Working Group, Refreshing the National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland, published 29 October 2010. Details are available at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/10/26112102/13.

  The monitoring proposals have been adopted and the group has already had its first meeting.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding from the Choose Life programme has been spent by NHS Health Scotland in each year since May 2007.

Shona Robison: Choose Life has been a programme of work at NHS Health Scotland since April 2008. Prior to this it formed part of the Scottish Government’s former National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing. Broad areas of spend by NHS Health Scotland on the Choose Life Programme since April 2008 is as follows:

  

Key Activity Area
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


Stakeholder engagement
£21,000
£13,000
£17,555


Awareness raising
£142,500
£210,000
£90,000


Provision of education and training about suicidal behaviour
£315,000
£395,000
£216,000


Capacity building and support to local areas
£11,000
£60,000
£60,200


Provision of communication resources
£3,800
£29,350
£26,610


Sub totals
£493,300
£707,350
£410,365


Staff Costs, including on costs
£426,700
£265,290
£337,319


Totals
£920,000
£972,640
£747,684



  The reason why there is variation in spend between the three years is due to a number of factors. These are:

  Choose Life is embedded within NHS Health Scotland - additional resources, corporate, staff and other input have contributed to the Choose Life programme through NHS Health Scotland’s Core Budget;

  Choose Life events, cheaper daily delegate rates and publications online rather than paper printing, have been delivered at lower costs than was originally estimated.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the announcement of £400 million for a new mental health strategy by the UK Government will have a Barnett consequential and, if so, (a) what this will be and (b) how it will allocate it.

Nicola Sturgeon: This announcement does not generate any new Barnett consequentials. Scotland has already received the full consequentials on the Department of Health’s spending review settlement in England, and we have already confirmed that all of these resources will be invested in the health sector and frontline services.

NHS Expenditure

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs has been in NHS Highland in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The hospital services drug expenditure for the last four years at NHS Highland:

  

Year
Amount (£ million)


2009-10
11.9


2008-09
10.4


2007-08
9.0


2006-07
9.5



  Source: ISD Scotland costs book.

NHS Expenditure

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs has been in NHS Orkney in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: : The hospital services drug expenditure for the last four years at NHS Orkney:

  

Year
Amount (£ million)


2009-10
0.3


2008-09
0.3


2007-08
0.3


2006-07
0.3



  Source: ISD Scotland costs book.

NHS Expenditure

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs has been in NHS Shetland in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The hospital services drug expenditure for the last four years at NHS Shetland:

  

Year
Amount £ (m)


2009-10
0.6


2008-09
0.4


2007-08
0.4


2006-07
0.5



  Source: ISD Scotland costs book.

NHS Expenditure

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs has been in NHS Western Isles in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The hospital services drug expenditure for the last four years at NHS Western Isles:

  

Year
Amount (£ million)


2009-10
0.8


2008-09
0.7


2007-08
0.7


2006-07
0.6



  Source: ISD Scotland costs book.

NHS Expenditure

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs has been in NHS Grampian in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The hospital services drug expenditure for the last four years at NHS Grampian:

  

Year
Amount (£ million)


2009-10
30.1


2008-09
26.6


2007-08
23.3


2006-07
21.5



  Source: ISD Scotland costs book.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of concerns raised regarding staffing, training and planning issues for paediatric services in the West of Scotland.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address staffing pressures facing paediatric services in the West of Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of paediatric medical services is one of the priority issues under consideration as part of a national, partnership-based project to bring medical workforce supply and demand into longer term sustainable balance, and to reduce reliance on trainee doctors for the delivery of frontline services. That project will result in future services being delivered predominately by trained doctors.

  Managing that transition is challenging and concerns have been raised by the west of Scotland in relation to the number of medical paediatric specialty trainees. These concerns have been progressed through the National Reshaping the Medical Workforce Project Board, and its working group, which provides governance for the process. After extensive consideration of all the issues, advice was provided to the concerned parties about future planning of paediatric specialty trainees and these will be taken forward by the West Region Medical Workforce Group.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses were recruited in NHS Highland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified nurses employed in NHS Highland since 2007 is as follows:

  2007 – 30

  2008 – 54

  2009 – 35

  2010 – 22

  2011 – 21.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses were recruited in NHS Grampian in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified nurses employed in NHS Grampian since 2007 is as follows:

  2007 – 83

  2008 – 223

  2009 – 183

  2010 – 15

  2011 – 17.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses were recruited in NHS Orkney in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified nurses employed in NHS Orkney since 2007 is as follows

  2007 – 0

  2008 – 2

  2009 – 4

  2010 – 1

  2011 – 0.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses were recruited in NHS Western Isles in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified nurses employed in NHS Western Isles since 2007 is as follows

  2007 – 1

  2008 – 3

  2009 – 1

  2010 – 6

  2011 – 0.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses were recruited in NHS Shetland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified nurses employed by NHS Shetland since 2007 is as follows:

  2007 - 3

  2008 - 7

  2009 - 10

  2010 – 2.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives were recruited in NHS Highland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified midwives employed in NHS Highland since 2007 is as follows

  2007 – 2

  2008 – 1

  2009 – 0

  2010 – 6

  2011 – 1.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives were recruited in NHS Grampian in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly-qualified midwives employed in NHS Grampian since 2007 is as follows:

  2007 – 17

  2008 – 9

  2009 – 7

  2010 – 9

  2011 – 1.

  Recruitment of newly-qualified nurses and midwives in 2011 is on-going.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified doctors were recruited in NHS Highland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified doctors were recruited in NHS Grampian in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified doctors were recruited in NHS Orkney in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified doctors were recruited in NHS Western Isles in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified doctors were recruited by NHS Shetland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: Recruitment of newly qualified doctors into Foundation Programmes in NHSScotland is managed centrally by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) which liaises with individual health boards about where those junior doctors should be placed.

  The following table provides the information requested showing numbers recruited by NHS Highland and the other NHS boards covered by the North of Scotland Deanery.

  

 
NHS Grampian
NHS Highland
NHS Orkney
NHS Shetland
NHS Western Isles


2007
100
29
0
1
2


2008
92
30
0
0
2


2009
88
27
0
1
2


2010
97
30
0
1
2


2011 (to date)
102
30
0
1
2



  Source: NHS Education for Scotland.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency staff were used by NHS Highland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been used in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency staff were used by NHS Grampian in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been used in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency staff were used by NHS Orkney in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been used in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency staff were used by NHS Western Isles in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been used in 2011 to date.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency staff were used by NHS Shetland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and how many have been used in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally held for 2007.

  Information for 2008-09 and 2009-10 is as follows:

  

Year
Grampian WTE
Highland WTE
Orkney WTE
Shetland WTE
Western Isles WTE


2008-09
74.5
62.7
5.9
22.0
11.0


2009-10
36.0
62.9
6.1
35.0
11.0



  Source: Annual Accounts.

  Note: The annual mean number of employees is calculated as the total whole-time equivalent (WTE) number of employees under contract of service in each week in the financial year, divided by the number of weeks in the financial year.

  Information for 2010-11 will be available when NHS boards produce their annual accounts for 2010-11 at the end of June.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mandatory independent external audit or inspection is carried out of the number of older people recorded on the delayed discharge database.

Shona Robison: Figures on Delayed Discharges in Scotland are published as National Statistics and therefore comply with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics . This means they are produced entirely independently of Ministers and go through rigorous quality assurance and validation before they are published. The UK Statistics Authority is about to begin an assessment of the Delayed Discharge publication produced by ISD Scotland and will report any recommendations in Summer 2011.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients died while recorded on the delayed discharge database in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Shona Robison: There are currently no plans to publish this information as it is not held centrally. From April 2011 a new dedicated information system will be fully operational across Scotland.

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to hold a public inquiry into the proposed incinerator at Invergordon and, if so, when it will be held.

John Swinney: The reporter appointed to determine this appeal, Mr Richard Dent, is currently considering what further information he requires to determine this appeal, who is best placed to provide this and by what method this should be obtained (further written submissions, a hearing or inquiry sessions).

Planning

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will make the final decision on the application for an incinerator at Invergordon if a public inquiry is held.

John Swinney: The reporter, Mr Richard Dent, has been appointed by Scottish ministers to make the final decision on this appeal. He is currently examining all the information that has been submitted to decide how the appeal should proceed.

Planning

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the environmental effect of retaining, amending or revoking legal agreements associated with planning consents will be taken into account under the new provisions introduced on 1 February 2011.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances (a) environmental impact and (b) habitats regulations assessments will be required before legal agreements associated with planning consents can be amended or revoked under the new provisions introduced on 1 February 2011.

Keith Brown: There is no change to existing criteria against which the need for any subsequent obligation would be assessed.

  The requirement for a) environmental impact assessment and b) habitats regulations appraisal, is provided by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (as amended), and The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) respectively. Where an environmental impact assessment or habitats regulations appraisal is required, that assessment or appraisal must be undertaken prior to the grant of planning consent and must consider all significant effects likely to arise from the proposed development.

Planning

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that interested parties, including statutory bodies, local communities and interest groups, will be (a) made aware of and (b) given an opportunity to comment on applications to amend or revoke legal agreements associated with planning consents.

Keith Brown: Where an application is made to a planning authority for the modification or discharge of a planning obligation, the authority is required to notify any person (other than the applicant) against whom the obligation is enforceable and provide them with details of the application, including how to make any representations. The planning authority must set a date by which representations are to be made which must be a minimum of 21 days from the date notification of the application is served.

  There is no requirement to notify any individuals or organisations not party to the obligation.

Police

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many stop and search procedures have been carried out in each financial year since 1999, broken down by police board.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. The responsibility for carrying out and recording stop and search procedures is a matter for individual chief constables.

  Strathclyde Police records and publishes figures from 1 April 2004, as part of the Chief Constable’s Annual Report. An extract of the published figures on searches is as follows.

  

Year
Total Searches
Positive Searches
Percentage Positive


2004-05
87,190
7,513
8.6


2005-06
91,336
6,794
7.4


2006-07
133,806
9,603
7.2


2007-08
162,914
11,385
7.0


2008-09
237,845
15,433
6.5


2009-10
321,302
23,534
7.3



  Source: Strathclyde Police - Chief Constable’s Annual Report 2009-10 - Statistical Supplement.

Police

Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each police board has spent on fuel in each financial year since 2001 and how much it expects to spend in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Kenny MacAskill: The spend by each police board from 2007-08 to 2009-10 with an estimate of costs for 2010-11 and 2011-12 is set out in the following table.

  Information prior to 2007 is not held electronically by individual police boards.

  

Transport Fuel
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11 (estimate)
2011-12 (preliminary estimate)


£000
£000
£000
£000
£000


Central
374
417
417
440
382


Dumfries and Galloway
190
214
207
208
306


Fife
398
523
476
484
605


Grampian
649
731
705
709
819


Lothian and Borders
1,180
1,328
1,281
1,289
1,285


Northern
582
627
608
600
604


Strathclyde
2,615
2,905
2,804
2,733
3,108


Tayside
625
699
683
760
776


Total
6,614
7,445
7,181
7,223
7,885

Procurement

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has provided since May 2007 to supported employment providers to enable them to bid for public contracts.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training it has provided since May 2007 to supported employment providers to enable them to bid for public contracts.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking action to remove barriers which prevent supported businesses, along with social enterprises and other third sector organisations, from accessing the public sector market. This includes (as part of general support for small and medium-sized enterprises and enterprising third sector organisations) giving supported businesses the guidance, training and skills they need to submit competitive bids for public sector business.

  The Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan, published in June 2008, includes the provision of a wide range of support to help third sector and supported businesses to prepare competitive bids for public sector contracts. Since then, three phases of Tender Writing Training have occurred which have to date been attended by around 600 delegates from third sector groups. This has included a number of representatives from four supported businesses attending a variety of courses.

Procurement

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what public contracts have been awarded to supported employment providers since May 2007.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what public contracts have been awarded to supported employment providers under Article 19 of the European Union Procurement Directive, broken down by (a) awarding body and (b) date.

John Swinney: The government does not currently hold information on public sector contracts with supported businesses or contracts awarded under Article 19.

  Analysis of procurement spend data for 2008-09 shows that the public sector spent £26.4 million with 23 of the 24 Scotland based Supported Businesses in that year. The Scottish Government currently uses Capability St Judes to provide laundry services to Marine Scotland in Aberdeen. Our design and print contractor has supported businesses in their roster of sub-contractors. At January 2011, we are aware of three other reserved contracts put in place by other Scottish public sector organisations:

  Highlands and Islands Council – CCTV Services

  North Lanarkshire Council – Bunk Beds

  The State Hospital Carstairs – Curtains.

  The Public Procurement Reform Programme is taking steps to encourage public sector buyers to place contracts with supported businesses when appropriate. For example:

  The British Association of Supported Employment (BASE), in partnership with the Scottish Government, published a brochure Supported Businesses in Scotland, which provides guidance to buyers on the use of Article 19 (which allows public buyers to reserve participation in tendering for contracts to Supported Businesses) and has details of the 24 Supported Businesses based in Scotland along with the products and services they can provide.

  Supported Businesses exhibited at the National Procurement Conference held at the SECC in October 2010

  We are working collaboratively with supported business. So far this year, two meetings have been held to identify the needs of Scottish supported businesses and explore what more government could do.

  We have added a new facility to Public Contracts Scotland which automatically alerts buyers when a supported business can fulfil the requirements of their planned contract, and offers them the facility to reserve the contract under Article 19. This facility will also capture information on the number of contracts being awarded to third sector organisations and supported businesses in future.

Procurement

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage the use of community benefit clauses.

John Swinney: In February 2008, the Scottish Government published a detailed report on community benefit clauses with practical information on how and when to use the clauses. Over the past 15 months there has been a programme briefing events on community benefits aimed at public bodies. These have been attended by an estimated 150 buyers from across the public sector in Scotland.

  The original guidance was supplemented by an information leaflet published in 2010 asking public bodies to consider using community benefit clauses in all appropriate contracts and signposting sources of help and advice to facilitate this. Use of community benefit clauses is also a key part of the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan and will continue to be promoted as a major component of sustainable procurement.

Procurement

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions it has used community benefit clauses to gain contracts for supported employment.

John Swinney: Community benefit clauses in Scottish Government contracts have, to date, focussed on youth unemployment.

  To increase opportunities for supported employment and other third sector businesses we have taken a range of actions including introduction of the Scottish Government “Ready for Business” Programme (aimed at capacity-building through training provision to third sector organisations) and we have amended the Public Contracts Scotland advertising portal so that an automatic alert is now issued to purchasers where a supported business may be interested in a contract they are preparing to advertise.

  Opportunities have also occurred at a sub-contracting level in Scottish Government contracts, for example, Scottish Braille Press provide services under the Scottish Government’s Design, Print, Publishing Contract. We continue to work with contractors to determine the potential to utilise supported businesses further.

Procurement

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its contract with Sodexo for dairy products meets the criteria in the guidance, Catering for Change.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government contract with Sodexo is for the provision and delivery of a catering and related services requirement. It is not a bespoke contract for the provision of a particular category of produce.

  The Scottish Government contract commenced on 1 June 2010, seven months before the guidance “Catering for Change” was issued. It requires Sodexo to follow government policies and places on them an obligation to be an exemplar with regard to the use of fresh, seasonal and healthy food produce.

Research and Development

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on research and development, broken down by portfolio, in each of the last five years.

Michael Russell: Government spend on research and development (R&D) is collected through the Office for National Statistics Annual Government Research and Development Survey. The latest published figures are for the financial year 2008-09.

  Scottish Government spend on research and development, 2004-05 to 2008-09

  

Year
R&D spend by Portfolio (£ thousands)
Total


Education and Lifelong Learning
Finance and Sustainable Growth
Health and Wellbeing
Justice
Rural Affairs and Environment


2004-2005
2,480
8,943
54,992
2,651
61,753
130,819


2005-2006
3,074
9,997
57,109
2,710
63,965
136,855


2006-2007
3,309
8,313
63,362
2,661
54,439
132,084


2007-2008
2,778
8,218
61,187
4,300
60,595
137,078


2008-2009
3,163
8,728
63,371
5,044
59,291
139,597



  Source: Government Research and Development Survey, Office for National Statistics.

  The table includes R&D spending by Scottish Government directorates, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

  However the table excludes:

  Scottish Funding Council grants to universities for Research and Knowledge Transfer.

  One-off funding mechanisms e.g. the £10 million Saltire Prize, £13 million WATERS scheme.

Scottish Government Funding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in relation to a business case for the City of Glasgow College’s estate redevelopment if it is submitted before the dissolution of the Parliament.

Angela Constance: Our 2011-12 Budget makes clear that the Scottish Government will deliver through the non-profit distributing model, “modernisation of the Glasgow college estate, subject to the conclusion of a robust and affordable business case”. Consideration of the business case will be undertaken by the Scottish Funding Council in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust once it is received to determine whether the project is ready to proceed to procurement.

Scottish Government Funding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Futures Trust will have in delivering the estate redevelopment for the City of Glasgow College.

Angela Constance: Our 2011-12 Budget proposed a pipeline of infrastructure projects for delivery through the non-profit distribution model. The pipeline includes investment in the modernisation of the college estate in Glasgow city centre. The Scottish Futures Trust will deliver the pipeline of projects in partnership with Scottish Government, local government, NHS boards and other public bodies.

Scottish Government Funding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust or the Scottish Funding Council will be the lead agency in delivering the estate redevelopment for the City of Glasgow College.

Angela Constance: While City of Glasgow College is the owner of its estates development project, the College will be supported by both the Scottish Funding Council and by the Scottish Futures Trust, as the bodies delivering the pipeline of NPD infrastructure projects in the college sector on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Funding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the £200 million budgeted in 2011-12 for the Scottish Futures Trust for the estate redevelopment for the City of Glasgow College will pay for.

Angela Constance: Our 2011-12 Budget makes clear that the capital value of the modernisation of the Glasgow College Estate is estimated at around £200 million. This is subject to the conclusion of a robust and affordable business case for the City of Glasgow College project, and a successful procurement through the Non Profit Distributing model. While the College has yet to submit its business case to the Scottish Funding Council, it is widely known that City of Glasgow College is committed to developing a world-class campus which matches its ambitions as Scotland’s largest college.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it distributed the £9 million made available to support local delivery of the smoking prevention action plan, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) year and (c) activity.

Shona Robison: £4.5 million was made available to support NHS boards over three years (2008-09 to 2010-11) to support local delivery of the smoking prevention action plan, the key aim of which is to dissuade children and young people from smoking.

  A similar amount of £4.5 million was allocated to local authorities to enable them to step up enforcement activity.

  Smoking Prevention Distribution to NHS Boards, Allocation Per Annum from 2008-09 to 2010-11

  

NHS Board
£


Ayrshire and Arran
115,400


Borders
40,800


Dumfries and Galloway
53,800


Fife
104,100


Forth Valley
82,900


Grampian
135,400


Greater Glasgow
344,300


Highland
98,200


Lanarkshire
157,800


Lothian
196,900


Orkney
15,800


Shetland
16,300


Tayside
118,400


Western Isles
19,900


Total
1,500,000

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million made available to support local delivery of the smoking prevention action plan was spent on (a) youth prevention, (b) youth cessation and (c) other cessation activities.

Shona Robison: £4.5 million was made available to NHS boards to support local delivery of the smoking prevention action plan and in particular, to focus on reducing smoking uptake through health promotion related activity. No detailed breakdown of board expenditure is available centrally, although through ongoing dialogue with tobacco programme leads within NHS boards we are aware that the funding supports a range of activities. This includes, for example, activities to engage with children and young people within a broad holistic approach to health and wellbeing

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what systems there are for NHS boards to report on how they have distributed the funding to support local delivery of the smoking prevention action plan.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are held accountable for all their actions within the broader accountability framework which is in place to monitor and assess their performance, including local delivery plans and annual reviews held with ministers. In addition, there is regular and ongoing dialogue with tobacco programme leads within NHS boards regarding tobacco programme delivery, including in relation to prevention.

Smoking

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage has been of adults in NHS Tayside who smoke in each year since 2006, broken down by gender.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table, which shows the percentage of adults (16+) in NHS Tayside who smoke in combined years 2005-06 and 2007-08, broken down by gender.

  Percentage of adults (16+) in NHS Tayside who smoke in combined years 2005-06 and 2007-08, broken down by gender. Data for 2009-10 are not yet published.

  

Year
Males
Females


2005-06
25%
27%


2007-08
26%
23%



  Source: Scottish Household Survey, SHS.

  Note: In order to increase numbers of smokers at NHS board level, two years worth of data have been combined.

Smoking

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage has been of adults in NHS Tayside who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day in each year since 2006, broken down by gender.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table, which shows the percentage of adults (16+) in NHS Tayside who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day in combined years 2005-06 and 2007-08, broken down by gender.

  Percentage of adults (16+) in NHS Tayside who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day in combined years 2005-06 and 2007-08, broken down by gender. Data for 2009-10 are not yet published.

  

Year
Males
Females


2005-06
11%
9%


2007-08
12%
8%



  Source: Scottish Household Survey, SHS.

  Notes:

  1. In order to increase numbers of smokers at NHS board level, two years worth of data have been combined.

  2. In the table the denominator is the percentage of all adults (16+) and not the percentage of all smokers.